Look at some of the language used here: "unprecedented experiences," "beyond real," "living a lucid dream," "perfect mind-body equilibrium," "forget your physical surroundings." The not-so-hidden message Moore is trying to present here seems simple: Your life is undoubtedly dissatisfying sometimes, so let us provide a machine that'll alleviate you from the harshness of the "real world." Let us give a chance to avoid it completely, they seem to be saying, if only for a little bit.

The result of Microsoft's company guys taking this route is that—whether intentional or not—they end up sounding like they're in too deep with the promises they've made. They've set up a reasonably unrealistic ideal—making a game machine that "perfectly" harmonizes mind and body, and presents itself as a sort of salvation through its technical power. They've made a promise that is practically impossible to keep. Frankly, they sound like they're too in love with their own creation.

Here, the Xbox 360 isn't so much an entertainment center as much as it is a psychedelic drug—a way of mentally going beyond the limits of reality. It's a marketing strategy that caters to the idea that video games only exist to take us away from ourselves, and that we should want to do as much.

It all seems unnatural. It's one thing to enjoy video games deeply, as many of us do, but language such as Moore's here suggests a sense of dependency we'll end up having on games, if we use them in the way he suggests. It's as if to say that playing a game is equivalent to admitting that your life needs escaping, when the truth of the matter is that there's a wonderful world, a real world, beyond consoles and PCs that is waiting to be enjoyed too. Sometimes, it's okay just to put the controller down, and to actually live life in conjunction with loving video games and all that they give to us.

So, when the next couple years come and go, and all the big game makers start making their promises about how their products will be needed for us to make our lives the best they can be, let's keep in mind the alluring nature statements like Moore's can sometimes have. It's important to remember that just about everything—including love, drugs, and, yes, even video games—is best served in moderation. There is no need for us to give ourselves up to a virtual unreality just yet.

We can, and should, love and support our video games and the great times they can bring. But, let's also make sure to wake up from these "lucid dreams" from time to time, and not lose ourselves in them completely.

ByJeff Dunn
Contributing Writer
Date: August 13, 2012

*The views expressed within this article are solely the opinion of the author and do not express the views held by Cheat Code Central. This week's is also purely a work of fiction*